Woman Engages In Disturbance At Henry Vilas Zoo

A woman was arrested and banned from the Henry Vilas Zoo Wednesday after entering the donkey enclosure and battering zoo staff. According to the Madison Police Department, zoo staff contacted police to report a person acting erratically. They said the person, identified as 26 year old Melanie Mabirizi was attempting to climb over railings into the animal enclosures. She got passed the pedestrian railing, but was blocked out of the enclosure by a chain link fence. Mabirizi was able to touch the donkey and attempted to take photos. When staff asked her to leave, she became even more upset and “battered” zoo staff before continuing to run around the zoo. Mabirizi was arrested for disorderly conduct, cited for trespassing and banned from the zoo.